The Uniform Stone
24th April 2009
Wearing a billboard
Recently Emma and I met a guy who is a leader of a church plant on the Sunshine Coast. As we talked together about what it means to start a new church, with great excitement he unveiled to us his latest and greatest idea. He decided that he wanted to be visible within the community and he wanted to make an impact on those he would see day to day. As he spoke of his wonderful idea he pulled out a red polo shirt with the name of the church painted on the back. "Check this out," he exclaimed with pride, "The purpose of this shirt is so that we are visible to the community. We're known as the ‘red shirts'."
"What a great idea," I thought, as I turned to Emma, who was grinning back at me. We were thinking the same thing, "That's what The Salvation Army has been doing for years."
In that moment I felt a great sense of appreciation and pride for the uniqueness of The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army uniform is not just about design, style, trend or colour, to me it represents purpose. The purpose of our uniform is not about looking the same; it is a statement of our faith. It is a visible expression of the inward transformation. It is a billboard that states, "Amongst this crowd I am a soldier of Jesus Christ." The uniform is not uniformity, or conformity but it is about availability.
Symbolic stones
We read throughout the book of Joshua that the people of Israel were continually reminded of God's provision and redemption. Chapters three and four detail how God allowed the Israelites to cross the Jordan and not be harmed. Then one man from each of the 12 tribes was chosen to fetch large stones to be set up within the camp. Joshua said to the people, "these stones represent that God has saved us. When your children ask, ‘what do these stones mean?' tell them that they are a reminder of what God has done for his people," (Joshua 4: 4-7).
My conversation with the Sunshine Coast church plant leader helped me to realise even more greatly that The Salvation Army uniform is like one of Joshua's stones. It represents that God has saved me, and when people ask why I wear it (even if it is just a t-shirt with a Red Shield on it) I can tell them it's a reminder of what God has done.
Matthew Moore and his wife Emma are Salvation Army Officers who are currently planting a new Church in Yeppoon, Queensland. Matthew is passionate about seeing lives transformed by God and helping people reach their potential in Christ.
Matthew's favourite series/movie is Transformers and one of his goals in life is to ride a giraffe.
save. grow. serve.
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Comments
Love the article Matt such truth in all you say!!
So often it can be easy to bag The Salvation Army and the uniform but to be honest our heritage is so rich and I am proud to be a part of it!!!!
Keep up the great ministry that you and Emma have!!!
Thanks for the article Matt, you're exactly right mate, an outward statement of an inward resolve. And it's powerful/dangerous wearing it in your community cause, as you have commented on, it will create opportunities and conversations, I just hope that we never reserve it for only wearing inside the church walls. When we do that it just makes no sense wearing uniform. Ta again for the thoughts brother.
thats so awesome it gave me a new way of thinking about uniform
Im glad you put in about how the uniform can also be a polo shirt, i beileve that if worn in the right environment then it is definatly a door opener for conversations about Jesus, however i also believe that 2 many ppl push others 2 wear the uniform out of a religious spirit and not a spirit of God, i would rather not have to think about this topic, wear it or don't lets not make a deal about it, celebrate the fact that Jesus is shared in the community, don't prasie the tool used praise the response.
thanx this totally backs up my thought on this topic. this is something that continually bugs me because the uniform today is nothing but a thing we wear to church, i am going to step out and claim this in my church, it is about time we stop wearing it cos it is a uniform and we start wearing it as an outward statement!! amen brother :)
Thanks for your awesome article, due to the 35 degree weather the idea of putting on stockings or long pants hasn't appealed but I still want to be recognised as a Salvo, instead I've been wearing a Red Shield or More tee to church. The reaction I've been getting from my fellow Soldiers has been rather negative, but I've come to realise something when church is over I will keep my Red Shield or More tee on and go out to lunch and hang out with my friends while my fellow Soldiers will change as soon as Church is finished because they don't want to get their uniform dirty. One must wonder what's the point of being 'visible' if you don't want to get dirty?